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cupido

Etymology and origin of the Latin word cupido

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (cupiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kʊˈpiː.doː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kuˈpiː.do][1]

Forms

cupīdō f (genitive cupīdinis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from cupiō “to desire” with the suffix -īdō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Plautus, who uses it for carnal desire.[4][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant passionate desire, longing, as in Cato, Livy's desire to found a city and Sallust's desire for glory, also carnal desire, lust, as in Plautus, and greed for gain, as in Horace.[2][5] Gaffiot calls it poetic, and it is sometimes masculine, as in Plautus and Horace.[5][6] Lucretius has the forms cūpēdō and cuppēdō.[6] Döderlein says cupīdō is desire as an active impulse, cupiditās the passion as a state of mind.[7]

In Medieval Latin it meant greed, desire.[8] The personified Cupīdō was the god of love, the son of Venus, whence English Cupid in the late 14th century.[2][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of lust.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of longing.[2][4]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of greed.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English Cupid is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Desire, longing.[2]
  2. Carnal desire, lust.[2]
  3. Greed.[2]

Word family

  • procupido
  • lucricupido

Usage notes

As a proper name, masculine Cupīdō is Cupid, the god of love; the plural Cupīdinēs are the Loves.[2][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Cupido.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/cupido. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·